Tusa is a popular Colombian slang term that is the heart and soul of this hit song.
It describes a specific kind of emotional state after a breakup: a mix of heartbreak, spite, and an inability to get over someone. In the song, Karol G sings about going out with her friend 'pa' matar la tusa' (to kill the 'tusa'), trying to cure this feeling with a party. Learning this word is key to understanding the culture behind modern Latin music.
Ever tried going out to party away the pain of a breakup, only to completely fall apart the second the DJ plays that one special track? That is the exact story Colombian star Karol G tells in "Tusa". The title itself comes from Colombian slang: tusa means the specific heartache, sorrow, and spite you feel after being dumped. In the track, the main character hits the club with her friend "pa' matar la tusa" (to kill the heartache) because a guy treated her badly. She tries to act tough, taking shots so the memories stop tormenting her, but the moment she hears their melody, she gets hit by "una depresión tonta" (a silly depression) and starts calling her ex in tears, only to be sent straight to voicemail.
Then Nicki Minaj steps up to balance that vulnerability with straight-up attitude, switching between English and Spanish to shut down any idea of getting back together. Nicki calls her ex "a big toddler" and an "epic fail", bragging that she is busy making money instead of answering late-night calls. The song balances that real, messy struggle between wanting to dance the pain away and accidentally drunk-dialing an ex when the music hits a little too close to home.
Carolina Giraldo Navarro, known professionally as Karol G, is a Colombian singer-songwriter born on February 14, 1991, in Medellín, Colombia. She is regarded as one of the most influential artists in reggaeton and urban pop, with a career spanning since 2006. Karol G has earned numerous awards including a Grammy, six Latin Grammys, and five Billboard Music Awards.
Karol G rose to international fame with hits like "Ahora Me Llama", "Tusa", and her record-breaking album Mañana Será Bonito, the first Spanish-language album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. She blends reggaeton, urban pop, and Latin R&B with powerful vocals and empowering lyrics. Beyond music, Karol G is recognized for breaking barriers for women in Latin urban music and continues to shape the genre worldwide.